Printing-punch mechanism



Sept. 10, 1929. w. w. I ,AsKl-:R

PRINTING PUNCH MECHIANISM Filed sept. lafs, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l lll/A 1Mb Y .MJ

SePt- 10, 1929- w. w. LAsKER 1,727,471

PRINTING PUNCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTOPNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. LASKER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PRINTING-PUNCH MECEANISM.

Application led September 26, 1925'. -Serial No. 58,894.

The present invention relates to the preparation 'of record cards for use in accounting, adding, tabulating and other machines so controlled, and relates more particularly to a combined punching and printing machine.

Some of the objects of the present invenvention are to provide means for preparing a card with duplicate representations of the record predetermined for it; to provide means for preparing a card with perforated and printed representations of the record predetermined for it; to provide means functioning in conjunction with the operation of a punching machine to set and print characters on a card corresponding respectively to the perforations made by the set condition of the punching machine; to provide means automatically set into operation by the operation of a card punching mechanism to set and print on the punched card a record corresponding to that represented by the arrangement ofthe card perforations; to provide means for automatically verifying a card vpunching operation asv soon as completed; to provide means for automatically setting type to print on a punched card letters, numbers or other characters conforming to the arrangement of the punching Without the operators attention and as a result of operating the keyboard for the punching operation; to provide a selecting mechanism to analyze the punched card and to automatically control the setting of type bars for type characters whereby the results of the punching operationare printed and veried; to provide means for automatically controlling a printing mechanism by the operation of a card punch; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, Figs. 1 and 1a represent together a schematic side elevation of a punching mechanism embodying one form of the'present invention; Fig. 2 represents a detail lof .the printing release mechanism; and Fig. 3 represents one form of card for'use with the punching mechanism of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention comprises generally a card magazine 10 provided with means for feeding cards one at a time to a punch unit 11 Where each is punched and then delivered to an analyzing unit 12 which coacts with a printing device 13 to make setups corresponding respectively to the punched arrangement of the cards so that eachcard is finally delivered to a receiving magazine 14 punched` to correspond to certain datal and also having a portion of the card printed With characters respectively corresponding to such punch locations.

The feedin means for the .cards may b`e of any suitab e construction for successively removing the cards one at a time from a stack and delivering them to feed rollers 15 and in the present instance consists of a reciprocatory feed block 16 operating across an opening in the bottom of the magazine 10 and arranged to project one card through a slot 17 at each stroke of the block 16. A picker blade 18 is carried by the end of the block and projects above the upper face of the block sufficiently to engage only thel juxtaposed edge of the 'bottom card of the stack. Motion is transmitted to the block 16 in timed relation to the cycle of operations by an arm 2O pivoted to the frame of the machine and having connection by Way of a link 21 with an eccentric 22 keyed to the main shaft 23. f 1

The cards delivered from the magazine 10 enter a registration passage 24 of the punching unit 11 and abut an automatically operated stop 25 which locates the card punch positions in register respectively With punches 26 on one side and holes 27 in a die 28 on the other side. nThe punches 26 are .guided at their lower ends in a registration plate 30 which moves with the die 28 and the arrangement is such that when the card contacts With the punches, as it is carried by the die, those punches which are not set vvill then be pressed back by the card and die Without making a perforation or perforations, While those punches which have been set, as predetermined, vvill be held against movement and consequently perforations will be made in the 4 form a cam acting latch 33 which, upon movement of its bar 31, shifts a laterally movable latch plate 34 so that any selected set-bar 31 will be held down and locked rigidly during the required punching operation. Below and in close proximity to the set-bar frame 32 is a cage 34 holding a plu- 'rality of slidable punch engaging pins 35, the number corresponding to the number of set-bars ,31 and the arrangement being such that each pin 35 is in alinement with a setbar 31 at its upper end and with a punch 26 at its lower end. The pins 35 are respectively held projected into engagement with the setbars 31 by springs 36 so that each is automatically returned to normal position, with its lower end spaced from its punch, and also returns its bar 31 when the latter is released after a punching operation. The punches 26 are similarly arranged and correspond to the number and arrangement of the set-bars 31 so that whenever a pin 35 is held locked and projected into engagement with its punch head that particular punch will be rigidly held against movement imparted by the die The selection and setting of the set-up bars 31 is accomplished, in the present instance, by a carriage 37, which is arranged to travel by a step-by-step movement across the group of set-bars 31. This carriage 37 is provided with a plurality of spring pressed plungers 38 corresponding in arrangement and number to a record column of the card, which in the preferred form is made up of twelve record positions representing numbers, letters or any other selected characters. The selection and actuation of the plungers 38 can be made by any suitable mechanism actuated by keys of a keyboard not believed here necessary to show or describe.

In the operation of the punching unit, the carriage 37 travels longitudinally across the rows of set-up bars 3l stopping momentarily over each row so that the actuation of any of its plungers 38 willcause a set-up bar 31 'to project its pin 35 into the path of the alined punch 26. When the complete set-up is made, and with a cardin the registration passage 24, the key controlling the actuation of the machine is depressed so that the die 28 rises to bring the card into punching relation with the punches and thosel which are rigidly held by the set pins 35 are caused to perforate the card. The reciprocation'of the In order to analyze and verify the punch-- ing operation, the card is fed from the punching unit by feed rollers 43 into a passage 44 formed by two spaced registration plates 45 and 46, each of which is perforated to conform to the points or designation locations on the cards. Below the plate 46 there is a pin box or analyzing unit 47 having a. plurality of analyzing pins 48 normally held projected towards the plate 46 by coil springs 50. These pins 48 register respectively with the perforations in the plate 46 and when the pin box 47 moves on its analyzing stroke such pins 48 as are in register withcard perforations pass through them and also through the plate 45, while those pins 48 which abut the card are depressed against the tension of the springs 50. The pins 48 selected by the card perforations serve, in the present instance, as stops projecting through the plate 45 into the path of rack setting bars 51 which correspond in number to the number of columns on thecards, each bar 51 being in alinement with a column and lying in close proximity to the upper face of the plate 45. The setting bars 51 are normally tensioned toward the plate 45 by springs 49 and are held latched in zero position by lug 52 which is arranged to latch over the end of the plate 45. Projecting downwardly from the face of the lug 52 is a lug 53 having a rear shoulder spaced from the. shoulder' on lug 52 at a distance equal to one-half of the distance between the pins 48. The rear face of the lug 52 rests against the end of the plate 45 whenever the bar 51 is in its home position. The bar 51 may be raised different distances so that either of the lugs 52 or 53 ma stop against the first eleven of the twelve pins 48. The lug 52 alone can `stop against the twelfth pin 48 as will appear later. The setting bars 51 respectively have their lower edges tapered and are respectively pivotally attached to the racks 55 which are respectively in mesh with pinions 56 fixed to the respective printing wheels 54. The tapering of the lower edges of the bars 5l brings their lug ends close to the upper face of the registration plate, while their opposite ends lare spaced therefrom to provide a clearance so that lrrespective of which analyzing pin raised so that its lug 53 controls its position- 'ing zand thus brings a second set of type into printing position. When the end or twelfth pin 48 alone is raised, the lug 52 will vbe stopped by this pin. Each set bar 51 It will thus be evident that a row of twelve pins actually controls twenty-three printing positions of a printing wheel 54.

In order to move the set-bars 51 to lset position whenever unlatched by a projected pin 48, a plurality of rock levers 57 are respectively connected by a pin and slot connection to the free end of the racks 55 and all are mounted for independent movement upon a shaft 58. The opposite arms 60 of the levers 57 are respectively held under tension, to rock the levers 57 in the required direction to shift the set-bars'l, by coil springs 61 which are fastened in stretched condition to a fixed part 62. Since the levers 57 operate in timed relation to the associated steps in the operation of the machine, means are provided in the form of a movable rail 63 for controlling the release of the levers 57 as well as to return them to :normal position. As here shown the rail 63 Sis supported between. end plates 64 which )are arranged to oscillate about a pivotal point 65, their movement being controlled y cam rollers 66 and 67 riding on the face of a cam 68 onthe shaft 58. The cam 68. is operated in timed relation by a link 70 connected to a part driven in proper timed relation. When the rail 63 moves in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, those levers 57, which are free to move due to the release of their connected setting bars 51,.

lwith a field 71 which assumes a position in register with the printing 'position of the printing wheels 54y when the card .is delivered from the analyzing unit 47 to a rest plate 72 and at that instant the printing wheels 54 are actuated to make an impression thereon.

For actuatinvr the respective wheels 54, each is carried 2by a striker bar'73 slidable through a frame strip 74 and guided by a fixed comb-piece 75, and the ends of the bars 73 are respectivel provided with a roller 73 to maintain t e respective racks 55 in meshwith their printing wheels 54. The striker bars 73 are pivotally connected respectively to arms 76 fulcrumed upon a com.- mon spindle 77 and placed under firing tension respectively by springs 78 stretched between-their free ends and a pivotally mounted tension control bar 79. This bar 79 is mounted upon arms 8O which are pivoted substantially coincident with the point of 'connection of the springs 78 with the arms 76,

and are arranged to be oscillated by a rod 81 and slot 82 connection with a vrock arm 83 arranged in the path of a pin 84 on the cam 68. Motion is also transmitted by the arm 83 and rod 81 to the firing control bars 84 because the latter 81 passes through slots 85 in the respective bars 84 to allow the desired lost motion for proper timing of the movement of the aforesaid bars 84 in the lcycle of operations. The rock arm 83 is vreturned by a spring 86 when-released by the return -of the pin 84.

In orderv to selectively vcontrol the release of the striker bars 73 in accordance with the card being analyzed, the arms 76 are respectively provided with keepers 87 arranged to be respectively engaged by latches 88 on latch bars 90, which are mounted for pivotal movement on` a pivot 91 and are normally held latched respectively by springs 92 stretched to the comb-piece 75. Release of the latch bars is accomplished by the provision of a trip bar 93 common to all of the latch bars and extending transversely of the control bars 84, and moving in a plane intersecting all o f the free ends of the trip arms 94 of the bars 90. Lost motion slots 95 are provided in the respective control bars 84 to receive the bar 93 and the bar 93 is spaced from the trip bars 94 so that unless one or more trip arms 94 are to be operated the bar 93 is free to reciprocate. without engaging any trip arm 94. In order, therefore, to transmit the movement of the bar' 93 as required, a, plurality of detents 96 are prop lmotion of the trip bar 93 thus directly transmitted to the selected trip arms 94.' The detents 96 are respectlvely pivoted to rock fingers 97 pivotally mounted upon a common spindle 98 and respectively carry rollers 100 which are held by springs 101 in the path of movement of lcam offsets 102 respectively formed on the rack bars 55. It will thus be evident, when a rack bar 55 moves to type setting position, that its cam offset 102 will engagevits tracking roller 100 of the finger 97 to rock the latter in a direction to cause its detent 96v to slide into projected position between the trip arm 94 and the trip bar 93, and consequently when the latter follows the movement of the control bars 84 it transmits movement through the detent 96 and trip arm 94 to` release the latch 88 of the selected striker bar y73.l Only those latches 88 will be released corresponding to the rack bars 55 selected for the particular printing operation, and all other latches 88 will remain locked because their detents 96 are out of the path of the trip bar 93 and the latter freely reciprocates without operating the corresponding trip arms 94 on that stroke.

Following the printing operation the punched record card, which yhas been responsible for the set-up and printing, is ejected into a receiving magazine 14, where the cards are stacked in the usual manner.

` ing the punching It will now be apparent that a complete unitar mechanism'has been provided for punching, verifying and correspondingly printing the record, as perforated, upon a card whereby each record card is not only provided with its perforated characteristics visibly displayed by printing but is also automatically checked immediately followoperation Whichproduced its record in the form of perforations. Thus, as each card registers in the punching unit, the punch set-up is madeby the operation of the punch operating keys in accordance with the data furnished for the re spective cards When the punch set-up is complete the punch operating key causes the main shaft of the machine to rotate so that the punch die operates to cause the punching of the cards by the set punches. The card then leaves the punch and is operated upon by the analyzing unit, the pin box of which reciprocates in timed relation andd causes the pins in register with the perforations in the card to release and set the rack ,bars accordingly. The movement of the rack bars controls the release of the printing striker bars corresponding to the rack bars operated and, as the racks have brought the selected type of theprinting wheels to printing position, the wheels are impressed upon the margin of the card which at that time is in printing position.

While but one form is shown in which this invention maybe embodied, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to any specific construction, but might be applied in various forms Without departing from the spirit of the invention'or the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

prising in combination a punching mecha# nism, a card analyzing unit for analyzing the punched cards, and means controlled by said unitfor printing characters on said card correspondin to the data represented by the `card per orations.

2..A record card preparing machine, comprising in combination means for punching a card to form perforations representing predetermined data, and means controlled by said perforations for indicating on said card another representation of the same data.

i 3. A record card preparing machine, comlprising 1n combination means for punchmg' 5. A record card preparing machine, comprising in combination means for indicating on a card representations of predetermined data, and means responsive to the representations on the card for indicating another representation of the same data on such card.

6. A record card preparing machine, comprising in combination card feeding mechanism, means for punching perforations in a card at onepoint in its progress through the machine in accordance with predetermined data, and means for indicating on said card another representation of the same data at another point in its passage through the machine, said last mentioned means controlled by the perforations formed by said punching means.

7 A record card preparing machine, comprising in combination means for unching perforations in a card representing predetermined data, and means permitting verification of the imposed data with the predetermineddata including means under control of perforations in said cardpfor imposing on said card another representation of data in accordance with that which has actually been imposed thereon by said punching means. y.

Signed at' New York, county of New York, State of New York, this 23rd day of September, 1925.

VWILLIAM W. LASKER.

1. A record card preparing machine, coml 

